FENWICK SCHOOL AND COLLEGE COUNSELING NEWSLETTER Meredith Reardon, Director 978-587-8311 MR@Fenwick.org
Ellen Boucher, Counselor 978-587-8314 EB@Fenwick.org
Donna Langer, Administrative Assistant 978-587-8313 DML@Fenwick.org
Mary Lou McLaughlin, Associate Director 978-587-8316 MLM@Fenwick.org
Katie Conroy, Counselor 978-587-8303 KGC@Fenwick.org
978-587-8310 COUNSELING@FENWICK.ORG
Welcome to the Winter issue of the School and College Counseling Department's newsletter. Each trimester we hope to share with you timely insights and helpful articles that are relevant to the school life of the students in all four grades. We also hope you will get a sense of the many things we do to support and encourage our advisees throughout their years at Fenwick.
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE COUNSELING CURRICULUM OVERVIEW 9th Grade
10th grade
Transitioning to BF: • Academic Skills • Social Skills • Emotional Skills • Attitudes • Independence
Focus of year: • Study Skills and Strategies • Getting Involved • Trying new things • Leadership • Volunteering • Introduction to Naviance …Career Assessments …Career Clusters …College Search • Setting Goals • Decision Making • Social Skills • Emotional Skills • Self-Care
Getting Involved: • Clubs • Supporting peers • Student Government • Theater • Athletics The Fenwick Family • Attending Events • Volunteering • Inclusion Academics • Daily Homework • Self-Advocating • Extra Help • Math Mondays • Science Thursdays • Agenda Book • Gradebook • Online Resources
One-on-One with Counselor: • Academic Progress • Review Transcript • Career Aspirations • Course Scheduling NCAA/NAIA Registration PSAT: • NMSQT in October • Review of Results
One-on-One with Counselor: • Academic Progress • Social Emotional Needs • Course Scheduling Self-care • Organization, advocating, identifying stressors, coping skills
Parents’ Opportunities to Support Attend Fall Parent Night Attend Winter Parent Program Read Newsletters Check Resource Boards Regularly
Parents’ Opportunities to Support Attend Fall Parent Night Attend Winter Parent Program Read Newsletters Check Resource Boards Regularly Incorporate College Tours In family vacations Encourage student to prepare for PSAT’s
11th Grade
FEBRUARY 2023
Junior Career and College Seminar • Junior Handbook • Career Assessments • Overview of College Process • Getting organized • College Search • College List • Touring Colleges • College Interviews • Communicating with Adults • Academic Recommendation • Resume • Student Profile • Self-Care College Admission Visits to Fenwick PSAT: NMSQT in October SAT/ACT: Students must register for Spring Administration One-on-One with Counselor • Academic Progress • List of potential colleges Summer • Common Application • Application Writing Sample • Touring Colleges • Narrowing College List
Parents’ Opportunities to Support Attend January Student and Parent College Kick Off Assist in planning College Tours Discuss College Finances with Student Facilitate SAT Registration Read Newsletters Check Resource Boards Regularly
12th Grade
VOLUME 01
Fall Senior Seminar • Senior Handbook • Matching Common App and Naviance • Electronically inviting Recommenders • Completing Common Application • Updating Naviance • FAFSA/CSS Profile • College Admission Visits One-on-one with Counselor • College Applications • Essay • Managing Deadlines • Refine Application(s) • Process Transcript Requests Scholarships Report application results to counselor Write notes of appreciation
Parents’ Opportunities to Support Attend Fall College Night. Seek help with questions re: The Process Financial Aid Attend Winter College Night Assist in planning for Accepted Student Days at colleges Support Final College Decision Read Newsletters Check Resource Board Regularly
Class of 2024, 12th Grade What Students are Expected to be Doing Now: Meet with their counselor regularly one on one to keep them updated as to college decisions and acceptance strategies. Update their Common Application and Naviance accounts with application status and college decisions. Monitor college portals in case they require more information or have made a decision. Complete and submit the FAFSA when available. If required by a college, complete and submit the CSS Profile. Check the Resource Board weekly for Scholarships. (Deadlines are sooner than you think.) Check the Resource Board weekly for pre-college and summer opportunities. Attend Senior Seminars and evening meetings. Continue to focus on academics – colleges may be requesting Trimester 2 grades. Incorporate Self-Care into every day. What Parents Can Do to Support: Attend Senior Counseling Information Night, January 10th, 6:30pm Focus will be Financial Aid and Scholarships Mr. Kevin Fudge, MEFA Ambassador -- details to be emailed to parents. Continue to support your student through the application process – after waiting for a decision, choosing which school is the best match can be the most stressful. Encourage students to declutter their schedules and allow for mindfulness. Have discussions with your student regarding how to manage finances, using a budget, how to self-advocate for health issues; physical and emotional. Be sure they know what they are allergic to, Blood Type, medications, insurances etc. Look at our suggested list for Santa for gift ideas between now and graduation. Enjoy the holidays!!!! STOCKING STUFFER IDEAS FOR COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS:
ARTICLES OF INTEREST FOR PARENTS THE FOLLOWINGARTICLES ADDRESS HELPING YOUR CHILD COPE WITH A DISAPPOINTING COLLEGE OUTCOME, FINANCIAL AID, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG FINISH TO THE SENIOR YEAR: (LINKS CAN BE FOUND ON THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE COUNSELING RESOURCE BOARD IN MYFENWICK):
5 Parent Tips For When College Admission Decisions Land
Do Colleges Look at Senior Year 2024-25 FAFSA Guide I How to Complete the New FAFSA Questions (salliemae.com)
When is the FAFSA Available
12th Grade
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Class of 2025, 11th Grade What Students are expected to be Doing Now: Continue to engage in the Junior College and Career Seminar. Make an appointment with counselor one on one to discuss career and post-secondary plans. Register for the SAT’s with the College Board (www.collegeboard.com). Register for the ACT’s with ACT (www.act.org). Use PSAT results to review for SAT’s using Kahn Academy Prep (free through College Board Account). Plan college tours for spring, 2024. Discuss finances for paying for college with their parents. If you are planning to play a sport at a Division 1 or 2 school, be sure to register with the NCAA and speak with your counselor this Trimester. Attend College Fairs – listed on the Counseling Resource Board Consider summer courses at colleges – list is frequently updated on the School Counseling Resource Board What Parents Can Do to Support: Attend Junior College Kick Off, January 25th, 6:30pm Focus will be on the nuts n’bolts of the college application process. Assist student with balance in their schedule to provide time for mindfulness and post-secondary planning. ·Review the financial plan to pay for college: how much will you allow your student to borrow for college? What is the plan for paying back a loan? Map a budget for day-to-day life on campus. ·Plan the logistics of visits to colleges. Student should always contact the schools. ·Familiarize yourself with the Junior Handbook. ·Attend webinars and seminars on financial planning. ·Holiday gifts can be with an eye toward college and self-care. ·Consider a pre-college summer program for your student.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST FOR PARENTS (LINKS CAN BE FOUND ON THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE COUNSELING RESOURCE BOARD IN MYFENWICK):
Navigating the college admissions process with a learning disability
How colleges choose which students to admit
11th Grade
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Class of 2026, 10th Grade What Students Are Doing Now: Making an appointment to meet with their counselor one on one. Reviewing PSAT results. Familiarize self with Naviance. Complete career and personality assessments. Review PSAT results to pinpoint what they need to focus on improving. Focus on improving grades with the goal of receiving teacher recommendations for higher level classes. Demonstrate your passion in one or two activities and identify potential leadership roles. Use an agenda or assignment book to track short and long term assignments plus write down goals. Attend College Fairs for information on colleges of interest – check the Counseling Resource Board for dates Consider Summer Programs – check the Counseling Resource Board What Parents Can Do to Support: Review your student’s PSAT results with them. With your child, develop both short and long term plans: academic, emotional, and social. Such a plan can include learning skills to live independently in college. Goals to include doing the laundry, ironing, budgeting, self-care, scheduling oneself, taking public transportation, monitoring time on social media, self-regulation to name a few. Daily, help student build in self-care and mindfulness. Plan with your student to attend College Fairs (these are announced on the School Counseling Resource Board). When planning a trip, drive through colleges on the way to discuss size, location, the design of the campus, and facilities. Have your student google the college to see what the school offers. Attend webinars and seminars on financial planning for college.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST FOR PARENTS (LINKS CAN BE FOUND ON THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE COUNSELING RESOURCE BOARD IN MYFENWICK):
Helping Teens Navigate the Tricky World of Too Much Tech
How to Make the Most of a College Fair
Quotes About Resilience That Foster Determination and Self-Confidence
10th Grade
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Class of 2026 -- 9th Grade What are Students Expected to be Doing Now: ·Meeting with their counselor one on one. ·Identify and organize a place at home to study and read. ·Use a calendar to track school vacations and commitments, family events and school long term assignments. ·Use an agenda or assignment book. ·Balance their activity resume with clubs, community service, theater, and athletics. ·Check Fenwick messages and Fenwick email daily. ·Review what worked and did not work first Trimester and come up with a plan to succeed Trimester 2. What Parents Can Do to Support: Hold weekly “meetings” to plan the upcoming week. Build in time for daily self-care and mindfulness. Limit access to social media and the internet. Discuss that at the end of 9th grade, the student’s GPA will be 1/3rd of the GPA sent on their transcript as part of the college application. Every year counts. Help your student build in time throughout the school week for extra help with individual teachers. Attend webinars and seminars on financial planning for college.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST FOR PARENTS TWO ARTICLES ABOUT THE TRANSITION INTO HIGH SCHOOL (LINKS CAN BE FOUND ON THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE COUNSELING RESOURCE BOARD IN MYFENWICK):
https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/stay-involved-in-middle-and-high-school/
https://theparentcue.org/what-teachers-wish-parents-of-high-schoolers-knew/
Quotes About Resilience That Foster Determination and Self-Confidence
9th Grade
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